Xabi Alonso, a man under immense pressure, whose future at the club remains uncertain as talks of his sack resurface after every bad performance from his team, faces his toughest test in the Champions League yet, as the Real Madrid manager faces a resurgent Manchester City team that’ll be looking to compound his misery when both teams face off at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City is the biggest game amongst nine other UEFA Champions League fixtures being played on Wednesday, December 10, as both teams are set to battle out for the maximum points that’ll boost their chances of reaching the Round of 16. As the UCL league stage reaches its climax, both teams will be desperate to secure positive results that strengthen their bid for qualification.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City Preview
Coming off the back of a horrific 2-0 loss at the Bernabeu against Celta Vigo – a match in which Madrid had two players sent off – the defeat capped what was already a difficult week for Alonso. His future at the club now appears to hinge heavily on the result against Manchester City, as back-to-back losses would intensify the pressure on the board to consider alternatives.
With Madrid now four points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race – despite leading for months – there is growing tension among the fans, the board, and even within the dressing room. A persistent question has begun to surface regarding whether the former Bayer Leverkusen coach is truly the right figure to lead the club back to glory.
And with the title race slipping and confidence clearly shaken, Alonso heads into the clash knowing that anything short of a positive result could turn an already tense situation into a full-blown crisis for both him and Real Madrid’s season.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who seem to have found a new lease of life and put together three straight wins, will come into the game with confidence, having turned a shaky start into a convincing run of form, and Guardiola will feel his side is beginning to build momentum just when it matters most.
With Madrid sitting fifth in the UEFA Champions League table with 12 points, just two ahead of City on 10, this clash is a must-win as both teams try their best to finish amongst the automatic qualification to the next round.
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Key Players
Kylian Mbappe
One of the most in-form players on the continent will be looking to replicate his hat-trick performance from the last time these two sides met. Mbappe, who has already contributed 20 goals and assists in just 16 league appearances this season, continues to operate at a frightening level.
The French forward remains a doubt for the upcoming clash after reportedly picking up a muscle problem during the game against Celta Vigo. Mbappe, who is said to have missed a first-team training session on Tuesday, is a vital part of Alonso’s setup, and his absence would represent a significant blow if he’s unable.
But if he does feature and maintains this scoring rate, he could realistically put himself on course to surpass some of Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing records, particularly in terms of Champions League goals and overall output at the highest level. And with every big-game performance, it’s impossible to shake the feelings of us witnessing another next-era defining talent.
Erling Haaland
The Machine. Once again, England’s most feared striker has set his sights on piling more misery on Xabi Alonso’s men. The Norwegian will look to carry his domestic form into European action as he aims to add to the five UCL goals he already has this season.
After recently surpassing Alan Shearer’s three-decade record as the quickest player to score 100 league goals, he heads into this match as one of the biggest threats Madrid’s backline will have to contain.
His pace, strength and ruthless finishing make him a constant danger inside the box.
Last 10 Games Between Both Clubs
Real Madrid vs Manchester City head-to-head record in last 10 games:
- 3 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 1
- 3 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 2
- 1 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 1
- 3 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 3
- 0 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 4
- 1 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 1
- 3 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 1
- 3 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 4
- 1 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 2
- 1 Real Madrid vs Manchester City 2
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Betting Tips and Predictions
Real Madrid head into this tie in shaky form, having won only two of their previous seven outings in all competitions. Encounters between both clubs rarely lack goals, with just one of their last 10 meetings seeing a side fail to score, and in the domestic league, Madrid’s backline has looked far from convincing, tilting this clash into a multiple goals affair.
Real Madrid vs Manchester betting tips: Both Teams To Score | Over 2.5 Goals | Manchester City Over 0.5 Goals
Real Madrid vs Manchester City score prediction: 2 – 2
Conclusion
Mbappe’s presence is a huge booster to the entire team as his pace and directness are crucial to how they transition from defence to attack. Without him, Madrid loses a major source of penetration and goals, which could force Xabi Alonso to rethink his approach or rely more heavily on other attacking options.
Manchester City come into this clash in free-scoring form, having put 11 goals past their opponents in just three games. With the likes of Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden finally finding chemistry, Guardiola’s side look more dangerous going forward.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / SOPA Images
Recording Date: 09.12.2025
